Thailand scraps plans to buy more Gripens

Budget cuts have compelled the air force to shelve its planned purchase of six more Swedish-made Gripen fighters.

As the government decided on Wednesday to slash the defence budget for the next fiscal year from 171 billion to 151 billion baht, the air force had to ditch its plan to order six more Gripen fighter jets worth 15 billion baht, commander Itthaporn Subhawong said.

The air force has already bought six Gripen jets worth 19 billion baht with the planes due for delivery next year.

The air force needs the other six Gripen jets to complete a fleet of 12 that will replace its ageing F-5 fighters scheduled to be decommissioned in 2011.

• Thailand |
• contract |
• delivery

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